H.B. 393 Enrolled

1

COMPETENCY-BASED EDUCATION AMENDMENTS
2 2013 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Gregory H. Hughes
5 Senate Sponsor: Stephen H. Urquhart
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends provisions related to competency-based education.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . requires that, before the 2014 General Session, the State Board of Education make
13 recommendations on a possible funding formula for competency-based education;
14 and
15 . allows a school district or charter school to establish competency-based education
16 programs and assessments that would result in course credit if the student
17 demonstrates competency in the subject.
18 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19 None
20 Other Special Clauses:
21 None
22 Utah Code Sections Affected:
23 AMENDS:
24 53A-1-409, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 19
25
26 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27 Section 1. Section 53A-1-409 is amended to read:
28 53A-1-409. Competency-based education -- Recommendations -- Coordination.
29 (1) As used in this section:

30 (a) "Competency" means a demonstrable acquisition of a specified knowledge, skill, or
31 ability that has been organized into a hierarchical arrangement leading to higher levels of
32 knowledge, skill, or ability.
33 (b) "Competency-based education" means an education approach that requires
34 [students] a student to acquire a competency and includes a classroom structure and operation
35 that aid and facilitate the acquisition of specified competencies on an individual basis wherein
36 [students are] a student is allowed to master and demonstrate competencies as fast as [they are]
37 the student is able.
38 (c) "Gain score" means the measured difference of a student's score at the beginning
39 and end of a time period that may be aggregated at the class, grade, school, and school district
40 levels.
41 (2) The State Board of Education shall:
42 (a) provide expertise to and consult with local school boards [and], school districts, and
43 charter schools relating to competency-based education and progress-based assessments;
44 (b) before the beginning of the 2014 General Session of the Legislature, make
45 recommendations to the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee, including the amount
46 and allocation of public education money, based upon both new public education money and
47 the reallocation of money required to develop and implement:
48 (i) competency-based education and progress-based assessments;
49 (ii) (A) a weighted competency unit that distributes public education money based on
50 student achievement resulting from competency-based program objectives, strategies, and
51 standards; and
52 (B) a course-level funding formula that distributes funds to school districts and charter
53 schools that establish competency-based education;
54 (iii) a plan to assist students, teachers, schools, and districts that need remediation
55 based upon Subsections (2)(b)(i) and (ii);
56 (iv) the reallocation of teaching resources from noncore electives into grades 1-3, 7-12
57 math, and 7-12 English; and

58 (v) a teacher development program focused on achieving progress in core academics,
59 including instruction in explicit, systematic, and intensive phonics for teachers in grades
60 kindergarten through 3;
61 (c) assist school districts and charter schools to develop and implement:
62 (i) competency-based education; and
63 (ii) the use of gain scores; and
64 (d) develop and use monetary and nonmonetary incentives, tools, and rewards to
65 encourage school districts and charter schools to accomplish the items described under
66 [Subsections (2)(a) through (c)] this section.
67 (3) A funding formula described in Subsection (2)(b)(ii)(B) shall:
68 (a) base the funding for a competency-based course on a proportionate amount of the
69 weighted pupil unit;
70 (b) partially distribute funds based on initial enrollment;
71 (c) distribute remaining funds based on a student's successful completion of a course
72 through demonstrated competency and subject mastery; and
73 (d) not be dependent on the amount of time a student is instructed in the course or the
74 age of the student.
75 (4) A local school board or a charter school governing board may establish a
76 competency-based education program.
77 (5) A local school board or charter school governing board that establishes a
78 competency-based education program shall:
79 (a) establish assessments to accurately measure competency;
80 (b) provide the assessments to an enrolled student at no cost to the student;
81 (c) award credit to a student who demonstrates competency and subject mastery;
82 (d) submit the competency-based curriculum standards to the State Board of Education
83 for review; and
84 (e) publish the competency-based curriculum standards on its website or by other
85 electronic means readily accessible to the public.

86 (6) A local school board or charter school governing board may:
87 (a) on a random lottery-based basis, limit enrollment to courses that have been
88 designated as competency-based courses;
89 (b) waive or adapt traditional attendance requirements;
90 (c) adjust class sizes to maximize the value of course instructors or course mentors;
91 (d) enroll students from any geographic location within the state; and
92 (e) provide proctored online competency-based assessments.

[Bill Documents]